Food and Beverage Tray

ABSTRACT

Food and beverage trays including at least a collapsed configuration and an un-collapsed configuration. The un-collapsed configuration includes at least a hole sized for holding a plate and an area sized for holding a beverage. Preferably, the collapsed configuration is flat and includes layers of material with cut-outs, slits, scorings, perforations, or some combination thereof. Preferably, the layers are attached together and are part of a single piece of folded over material. The material preferably includes corrugated cardboard, corrugated plastic, paperboard, or some combination thereof, and adhesive. Also, methods of using the tray.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/795,349, filed Apr. 26, 2006 in the name of the same inventor, entitled “Food and Beverage Tray.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a collapsible food and beverage tray.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many people often attend parties, picnics, tailgate parties, camping events and other social gatherings where food and beverages are served. The food and beverages at such gatherings often are served buffet style or in some other informal manner. As a result, people at such gatherings often attempt to carry a plate of food, a beverage, eating utensils and the like all at once. They often try to do this while also trying to perform some other activity, for example getting more food, opening a door, shaking hands, etc. Performing such activities can be difficult while balancing a plate of food, a beverage, eating utensils and the like all at once. Accidents often happen in which food or beverages are spilled, which can be embarrassing and can detract from enjoyment of the social gathering.

Attempts have been made to provide a tray that permits holding food, a beverage, eating utensils and the like with one hand. However, these attempts have not been satisfactory. From an end-user's perspective, examples of problems with these trays include awkward designs and expense. From a retailer's perspective, examples of problems with these trays include their bulkiness, which limits how many of the trays can be stored as inventory or placed in a given shelf space for sale to consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing problems, a need exists for inexpensive trays that permit holding a plate of food, a beverage, and possibly eating utensils, condiments, and the like, all preferably with one hand. The trays should be stackable so as to facilitate storage as inventory, packaging, and placement in a given shelf space for sale to consumers.

The invention addresses the foregoing need with food and beverage trays that include at least a collapsed configuration and an un-collapsed configuration. At least the un-collapsed configuration includes at least a hole sized for holding a plate and an area sized for holding a beverage.

The collapsed configuration preferably is flat, for example being made of two layers of material with cut-outs, slits, perforations, or some combination thereof. Preferably, the layers are attached together and are part of a single piece of folded over material. The material can be any suitable material, for example but not limited to corrugated cardboard, corrugated plastic, paperboard, or some combination thereof, and adhesive.

Various embodiments of the trays include some, all, or none of the following: at least two feet, a raised portion that includes the area sized for holding the beverage, at least one open cavity, slots and flaps with tabs that can be locked together to support the raised portion, a thumb hole, a slot for a wine glass stem, and the like.

Preferably, the hole for the plate is sized for holding a seven inch, nine inch, ten inch, or ten and seven eighths inch diameter plate. In some embodiments, margin material at least partially surrounds the hole, and this margin material preferably can be removed by hand to make the hole larger.

In a preferred embodiment, the area sized for holding the beverage is sized to hold a standard twelve ounce beverage can, twelve ounce beverage cup, sixteen ounce beverage cup, twenty ounce beverage cup, twenty four ounce beverage cup, or some combination thereof.

The invention also encompasses methods of making and using such trays.

This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof in connection with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 4 show various views and configurations of one embodiment of the food and beverage tray.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show various views and configurations of another embodiment of the food and beverage tray.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating use of a food and beverage tray.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Provisional Application

U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/795,349, filed Apr. 26, 2006 in the name of the same inventor, entitled “Food and Beverage Tray,” is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Overview

Briefly, a food and beverage tray includes at least a collapsed configuration and an un-collapsed configuration. At least the un-collapsed configuration includes at least a hole sized for holding a plate and an area sized for holding a beverage.

Large Tray

FIGS. 1 to 4 show various views and configurations of one embodiment of the food and beverage tray. In particular, FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of a collapsed configuration, FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view of a collapsed configuration, FIG. 3 shows a possible construction of the collapsed configuration, and FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an un-collapsed configuration of this embodiment. The embodiment shown in these figures is generally suited for a larger tray than the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 (discussed below).

In FIGS. 1 and 2, collapsed configuration 1 of the tray is flat, preferably being made of two layers 2 and 3 of material with cut-outs 4, slits 5, scorings 6, and perforations 7 (not all labeled in the figures). In preferred embodiments, holes are already cut out, slits are already present for permitting free movement of flaps, scorings are present to facilitate proper folding, and perforations are present to facilitate tearing and/or folding (longer scorings preferably are also perforated to further facilitate proper folding). In other embodiments, other elements might be present in addition to or besides these elements. In addition, other embodiments might have only one layer or more than two layers. The layer(s) can be made of any suitably strong and durable material, including but not limited to corrugated cardboard such as chemie cardboard or tri-lite cardboard, corrugated plastic, paperboard, some other suitably strong and durable material, or some combination thereof.

Parts of the layers in FIGS. 1 and 2 preferably are attached together, for example with adhesive 8. Gap 9 preferably is present between other parts of the layers to allow those parts to separate from each other when the tray is manipulated into an un-collapsed configuration.

FIG. 3 shows that the layers can be part of a single piece of material 10 that can be folded over to form the layers. The arrangement shown in this figure also can be considered a collapsed configuration. In other embodiments, the layers can be made from separate pieces of material, possibly including more than two pieces of material. In addition, the layers can be attached together using something other than adhesive or might not be attached together.

The collapsed configuration is particularly suited to be stacked so as to facilitate storage as inventory, packaging, and placement in a given shelf space for sale to consumers.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of un-collapsed configuration 11 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Various ones of the cut-outs, slits, and perforations shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 become various features shown in FIG. 4 when un-collapsed, as discussed below.

Un-collapsed configuration 11 of the tray includes hole 12 sized for holding a plate, for example but not limited to a disposable paper or plastic plate, a regular dinner plate, and the like. In preferred embodiments of the large tray, hole 12 is sized for holding a nine inch, ten inch, or ten and seven eighths inch diameter plate. A hole sized for a particular diameter plate is somewhat smaller that the plate, for example one to two inches in diameter smaller. Other size holes and holes for other size plates can be used.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, margin material 14 at least partially surrounds hole 12. This margin material preferably can be removed by hand to makes the hole larger. For example, perforation 15 can be placed around margin material 14 so that the margin material can be easily torn off by hand.

In some embodiments, hole 12 is sized for a nine inch diameter plate with margin material 14 in place, and hole 12 is sized for a ten inch or ten and seven eighths inch diameter plate with margin material 14 removed. Alternatively, other sizes of holes, sizes of margin material, and arrangements of margin material can be used, and the margin material can be omitted.

Un-collapsed configuration 11 of the tray preferably also includes feet 17 and 18 (hidden). Feet 17 are formed from tabs 20 and project from the tray. Foot 18 is formed from scored (and preferably perforated) flap 22 with tab 23. Foot 18 is formed by rolling up flap 22, which is facilitated by the perforations, and inserting tab 23 into slot 24. In other embodiments, only one of these types of feet is used. Alternatively, other types and numbers of feet can be used, or the feet can be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, un-collapsed configuration 11 further preferably includes raised portion 27. This raised portion includes area 28 sized for holding a beverage, for example but not limited to a standard 12 oz. beverage can, 12 oz. beverage cup, 16 oz. beverage cup, 20 oz. beverage cup, 24 oz. beverage cup, or some combination thereof.

Raised portion 27 also can include one or more open cavities such as cavity 29, for example for holding condiments and the like. Alternatively, such cavities can be omitted.

The raised portion also can include one or more thumb holes such as thumb hole 30. The thumb hole facilitates carrying of the tray with just one hand. Alternatively, thumb holes can be omitted.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, raised portion 27 is formed from flaps 31 with tabs 32 and slots 33. When the tray is set up in its un-collapsed form, tabs 32 lock into slots 33, thereby providing support for raised portion 27. Other arrangements can be used to form the raised portion. Alternatively, the raised portion can be omitted.

Small Tray

FIGS. 5 to 8 show various views of another embodiment of the food and beverage tray. In particular, FIG. 5 shows a top perspective view of a collapsed configuration, FIG. 6 shows a bottom perspective view of a collapsed configuration, FIG. 7 shows a possible construction of the collapsed configuration, and FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an un-collapsed configuration of this embodiment. The embodiment shown in these figures is generally suited for a smaller tray than the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, collapsed configuration 31 of the tray is flat, preferably being made of two layers 32 and 33 of material with cut-outs 34, slits 35, scorings 36, and perforations 37 (not all labeled in the figures). In preferred embodiments, holes are already cut out, slits are already present for permitting free movement of flaps, scorings are present to facilitate proper folding, and perforations are present to facilitate tearing and/or folding (longer scorings preferably are also perforated to further facilitate proper folding). In other embodiments, other elements might be present in addition to or besides these elements. In addition, other embodiments might have only one layer or more than two layers. The layer(s) can be made of any suitably strong and durable material, including but not limited to corrugated cardboard such as chemie cardboard or tri-lite cardboard, corrugated plastic, paperboard, some other suitably strong and durable material, or some combination thereof.

Parts of the layers in FIGS. 5 and 6 preferably are attached together, for example with adhesive 38. Gap 39 preferably is present between other parts of the layers to allow those parts to separate from each other when the tray is manipulated into an un-collapsed configuration.

FIG. 7 shows that the layers can be part of a single piece of material 40 that can be folded over to form the layers. The arrangement shown in this figure also can be considered a collapsed configuration. In other embodiments, the layers can be made from separate pieces of material, possibly including more than two pieces of material. In addition, the layers can be attached together using something other than adhesive or might not be attached together.

The collapsed configuration is particularly suited to be stacked so as to facilitate storage as inventory, packaging, and placement in a given shelf space for sale to consumers.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of un-collapsed configuration 41 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. Various ones of the cut-outs, slits, and perforations shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 become various features shown in FIG. 8 when un-collapsed, as discussed below.

Un-collapsed configuration 41 of the tray includes hole 42 sized for holding a plate, for example but not limited to a disposable paper or plastic plate, a regular dinner plate, and the like. In preferred embodiments of the small tray, hole 42 is sized for holding a seven inch or nine inch diameter plate. A hole sized for a particular diameter plate is somewhat smaller that the plate, for example one to two inches in diameter smaller. Other size holes and holes for other size plates can be used.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, margin material 44 at least partially surrounds hole 42. This margin material preferably can be removed by hand to makes the hole larger. For example, perforation 45 can be placed around margin material 44 so that the margin material can be easily torn off by hand.

In some embodiments, hole 42 is sized for a seven inch diameter plate with margin material 44 in place, and hole 42 is sized for a nine inch diameter plate with margin material 44 removed. Alternatively, other sizes of holes, sizes of margin material, and arrangements of margin material can be used, and the margin material can be omitted.

Un-collapsed configuration 41 of the tray preferably does not include feet. However, feet can be included in some embodiments of the tray.

As shown in FIG. 8, un-collapsed configuration 41 further preferably includes raised portion 46. This raised portion includes area 47 sized for holding a beverage, for example but not limited to a wine glass. Thus, area 47 also preferably includes slot 48 for a wine glass stem. Alternatively, area 47 can be sized for another type of beverage, including but not limited to a standard 12 oz. beverage can, 12 oz. beverage cup, 16 oz. beverage cup, 20 oz. beverage cup, 24 oz. beverage cup, or some combination thereof.

Raised portion 46 also can include one or more open cavities such as cavity 49, for example for holding condiments and the like. Alternatively, such cavities can be omitted.

The raised portion also can include one or more thumb holes such as thumb hole 50. The thumb hole facilitates carrying of the tray with just one hand. Alternatively, thumb holes can be omitted.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, raised portion 46 is formed from flaps 51 with tabs 52 and slots 53. When the tray is set up in its un-collapsed form, tabs 52 lock into slots 53, thereby providing support for raised portion 46. Other arrangements can be used to form the raised portion. Alternatively, the raised portion can be omitted.

Method of Use

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of one possible method 90 of using the trays discussed above.

In step 91, a tray is manipulated from its collapsed configuration to its un-collapsed configuration. Manipulation of the tray preferably is intuitive: holes are already cut out, slits are already present for permitting free movement of flaps, scorings are present to facilitate proper folding, and perforations are present to facilitate folding and/or tearing. In other embodiments, other elements might be present in addition to or besides these elements.

At least the un-collapsed configuration includes at least a hole sized for holding a plate and an area sized for holding a beverage. The un-collapsed configuration might also include some, none, or all the following features: feet, a raised portion possibly with one or more cavities for condiments and the like, and one or more thumb holes. Other features also might be present. Step 91 can include setting up such features. For example, if feet are present, this step can include setting up the feet. If a raised portion that is formed from slots and flaps with tabs is present, this step also can include locking the tabs into the slots to support the raised portion.

In step 92, if margin material is present around the hole, that margin material can be removed by hand if desired.

In step 93, a plate (with or without food and the like thereon) is placed in the hole. A beverage or the like also can be placed in the tray in this step.

The tray preferably can be carried with one hand in step 94.

Of course, the above steps do not necessarily have to be performed in the order set forth above. The trays can be used in other ways as well.

Uses and Themes

The larger tray discussed above generally is better suited for large events such as sporting events, graduations, picnics, holidays, birthdays, and the like, where move food and beverage is likely to be carried by participants. The smaller tray discussed above generally is better suited for smaller events such as cocktail parties, wine parties, and the like. However, either tray is wholly suitable for any type of event where participants carry food and beverage.

The materials used to make the trays preferably are easily marked and colored so that suitable thematic decoration can be added to the trays. For example, a racing flag pattern can be used to decorate trays for use at a race event, a football grid can be used to decorate trays for use at a football tailgate, and the like. Licensed logos such as athlete numbers or team names also can be used for decoration. Furthermore, decorations suitable for particular holidays, such as an American flag theme for the Fourth of July, can be used. Any other suitable decoration and coloring can be used to meet market needs. Alternatively, plain (and therefore most likely less expensive) trays can be used.

Alternative Embodiments

The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. The terms “preferably,” “preferred embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “this embodiment,” “alternative embodiment,” “alternatively” and the like denote features that are preferable but not essential to include in embodiments of the invention. The terms “comprising” or “including” mean that other elements and/or steps can be added without departing from the invention. For example, a strap or other structure could be added above or below the rest of the tray to support a plate in the tray.

Furthermore, the various elements shown in the figures can be used in various combinations. For example, one or both type of feet shown in FIG. 4 can be used with the small tray, feet can be omitted from the large tray, a slit for a wine glass stem can be used with the large tray, and the like. In addition, various embodiments can omit various ones of the elements shown in the figures. For example, a thumb hole and/or margin material around the hole for a plate can be omitted from some embodiments. Many other variations are possible which remain within the content, scope and spirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of this application. 

1. A food and beverage tray including at least a collapsed configuration and an un-collapsed configuration, wherein at least the un-collapsed configuration includes at least a hole sized for holding a plate and an area sized for holding a beverage.
 2. A food and beverage tray as in claim 1, wherein the collapsed configuration is flat.
 3. A food and beverage tray as in claim 1, wherein the collapsed configuration comprises two layers of material with cut-outs, slits, perforations, or some combination thereof, and wherein the two layers of material are attached together.
 4. A food and beverage tray as in claim 3, wherein the two layers of material comprise a single piece of folded over material.
 5. A food and beverage tray as in claim 3, wherein the material comprises corrugated cardboard, corrugated plastic, paperboard, or some combination thereof, and adhesive.
 6. A food and beverage tray as in claim 1, wherein the hole is sized for holding a seven inch, nine inch, ten inch, or ten and seven eighths inch diameter plate.
 7. A food and beverage tray as in claim 1, further including margin material that at least partially surrounds the hole, wherein the margin material that can be removed by hand, and wherein removal of the margin material makes the hole larger.
 8. A food and beverage tray as in claim 7, wherein the hole is sized for a seven inch diameter plate with the margin material in place, and the hole is sized for a nine inch diameter plate with the margin material removed, or wherein the hole is sized for a nine inch diameter plate with the margin material in place, and the hole is sized for a ten inch or ten and seven eighths inch diameter plate with the margin material removed.
 9. A food and beverage tray as in claim 7, further including perforation around the margin material.
 10. A food and beverage tray as in claim 1, wherein the un-collapsed configuration includes at least two feet.
 11. A food and beverage tray as in claim 1, wherein the un-collapsed configuration includes at least a raised portion that includes the area sized for holding the beverage.
 12. A food and beverage tray as in claim 11, wherein the raised portion further includes at least one open cavity.
 13. A food and beverage tray as in claim 11, wherein the raised portion further includes slots and flaps with tabs, and wherein the tabs lock into the slots to support the raised portion.
 14. A food and beverage tray as in claim 11, wherein the raised portion further includes a thumb hole.
 15. A food and beverage tray as in claim 11, wherein the raised portion further includes a slot for a wine glass stem in the area sized for holding the beverage.
 16. A food and beverage tray as in claim 1, wherein the area sized for holding the beverage is sized to hold a standard twelve ounce beverage can, twelve ounce beverage cup, sixteen ounce beverage cup, twenty ounce beverage cup, twenty four ounce beverage cup, or some combination thereof.
 17. A method of using a food and beverage tray to hold a plate and a beverage, with the tray including at least a collapsed configuration and an un-collapsed configuration, comprising the steps of: manipulating the tray from the collapsed configuration to the un-collapsed configuration, wherein at least the un-collapsed configuration includes at least a hole sized for holding a plate and an area sized for holding a beverage; placing the plate in the hole sized for holding the plate; and placing a beverage in the area sized for holding the beverage.
 18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the un-collapsed configuration includes at least two feet.
 19. A method as in claim 17, wherein the un-collapsed configuration includes at least a raised portion that includes the area sized for holding the beverage.
 20. A method as in claim 19, wherein the raised portion further includes slots and flaps with tabs, and further comprising the step of locking the tabs into the slots to support the raised portion.
 21. A method as in claim 19, wherein the raised portion further includes a thumb hole, and further comprising the step of carrying the tray with one hand, with a thumb of the hand placed in the thumb hole.
 22. A method as in claim 17, wherein the tray further includes margin material that at least partially surrounds the hole, and further comprising the step of removing the margin material by hand to make the hole larger. 